From The Butler Weekly Times, Butler, Bates, MO - 1887

Wednesday, Jan. 5, 1887

Another Case of Didn’t Know it was Loaded.

   This morning a report was circulated on the streets that Harry, the 17 year old son of Alderman Williamson had been shot. A Herald representative repaired to the residence of Mrs. Sick where the shooting took place, and from Will Burkhart, learned the particulars of the accident.

   “Harry Williamson and myself were staying with Herman Sick in Mrs. Sick’s absence and this morning when we got up, Herman picked up a revolver and was showing Harry what he would do should anybody break in the house and drew the pistol down on him and snapped it. I heard the report and looked around and saw blood running out of a hole in Harry’s head. I went up to him but he seemed like he was dead.”  The ball entered the forehead just over the right eye and lodged in the back of the head, the ball being that of a 42 calibre. The young man’s recovery is impossible, but at this writing, 11:30 he is breathing free.

YOUNG WILLIAMSON DIES.

   At 10 o’clock Saturday night, Dr. Gillett assisted by Drs. Winchell and Higgenbottom, extracted the ball which had lodged in the back of the head. When the bullet was taken out a large quantity of the brain oozed out. From the hour of the fatal shot, Harry was unconscious and so remained until death came to his relief. At 1:15 yesterday morning he quietly passed away

amid the sorrow of his parents and family.

   Herman Sick, the young man who fired by accident, the fatal shot is almost a raving maniac, and refuses to be comforted, even by the family of Mr. Williamson. It is said the boy’s condition is very critical.

                                                    ---Rich Hill Herald

Wednesday, Mar. 23, 1887- ---Rich Hill Review.

Shortly after 1 o’clock last Tuesday afternoon a 14-year old colored boy named Ben Wiley was run over by the north bound freight train. Ben, with several other boys, has been in the habit of boarding such trains just as they were pulling out from the city and thus securing a ride sometimes as far as Ovid, returning by the next train south. At other times the boys would jump from the train ere it got fairly started down the grade between here and the smelters. On the fatal occasion Ben was perhaps a little more careless or hazardous than usual and lost his footing. In pitching from the train the unfortunate boy struck upon his forehead, his right leg being thrown across the track by the fall; and the wheels, of course, passed over this, crushing the bone and severing the limb just below the knee. Ben was in intense distress and fear for a few moments after the accident, but the flow of blood from the lacerated member soon brought tranquility to his mind, and by the time the amputation took place he was quite reconciled. Dr. Allen, the railroad company’s physician, was on the train at the time the accident occurred, but got off as soon as the train could be stopped and promptly superintended the necessary arrangements for the surgical operation---ministering to the poor boy’s wants with his usual willingness in such cases.

                                                ---Rich Hill Review.

Nevada Daily Mail (March 14,1965)